When my children were tiny, I wasn’t the type to bathe them every single day, and if the weather was mild, I often opted to forgo the newborn hat (a rookie mistake, I know!). Their little nails sometimes grew long enough to leave scratches on their delicate faces, and I frequently missed a spot or two when cleaning up spit-up—on both their clothes and mine.
I never subscribed to the notion that a newborn should remain confined to a meticulously sanitized home for the first three months. How could anyone manage that, especially with more than one child? However, one strict rule I firmly upheld was this: “Keep your germs away from my baby!” I often carried my infant in a carrier, partly because they were attached to me like Velcro, but also as a shield against well-meaning adults who felt entitled to snatch them up and smother them with affection.
I understand the allure; newborns are irresistibly cute and it’s challenging to resist touching them. But please, for the love of all that is sacred, do not touch a newborn without explicit permission. Wash your hands before holding them, and absolutely refrain from kissing them. And if you’re sneezing, don’t even think about blaming it on “allergies” or some other flimsy excuse.
Here’s the crucial point where I draw a hard line: If you show up at my house to visit my newborn while experiencing “just a cold,” “a tickle in your throat,” or any similar excuses, you will be asked to leave. There’s no room for negotiation here. If a newborn is present, you must be in good health to enter.
Your “minor” sniffle might seem trivial to you, but it could pose serious risks to a newborn and potentially land them in the hospital. While adults have developed their immune systems over the years, infants haven’t had that luxury. What might be a simple cold for you could be life-threatening for a newborn, with conditions like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) presenting serious risks.
Pediatricians, including experts from reputable sources like WebMD, emphasize the severity of infections in young infants. Dr. Lisa Thompson, a pediatrician, states that illnesses can escalate quickly in babies, and viruses can manifest differently in them compared to older children or adults. For this reason, it’s critical to take extra precautions with newborns, particularly during their first three months, and sometimes even until they’re six months old.
Of course, despite your best efforts, sickness can find a way in. A friend of mine had a newborn who was hospitalized due to germs brought home by an older sibling. Thankfully, such cases are rare, and most babies recover well, even though it can be incredibly frightening for parents. Why take the risk when a simple solution exists—stay away from infants if you’re feeling unwell?
While I may be a bit of a germaphobe, I do believe it’s beneficial for older children to encounter germs as they grow. Once they start crawling, there’s little that can be done to stop them from exploring the world, often in ways that are less than hygienic. However, this exposure typically coincides with a time when they have received a few vaccinations and are better equipped to handle infections.
Until then, let’s make it clear: keep your germs to yourself. I don’t care if you traveled across the country to meet the baby; if you are unwell, stay away until you are completely better. For more on parenting and health, check out our other posts, such as the at-home insemination kit guide here or the detailed resources on pregnancy here.
Summary
It’s essential to protect newborns from germs, especially during their first few months of life. Visitors must be in good health before meeting a baby, as even minor illnesses in adults can pose serious risks to infants.
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